What is insomnia?

Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, resulting in inadequate length of sleep, poor quality of sleep or both. The disturbances caused by insomnia affect people during their waking hours by making them feel tired, drained, and lacking in energy. People with insomnia may wake frequently during the night and have difficulty falling back asleep or may wake up too early in the morning.

How common is insomnia?

Insomnia is the most common type of sleep disorder. According to the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, about 30 to 40 percent of adults experience insomnia in a given year. About 10 to 15 percent experience insomnia that is chronic or severe. Insomnia is more common among women, especially after menopause, and the elderly. About half of people over age 65 have frequent sleep problems.

What causes insomnia?

Many conditions can cause insomnia. Some possible causes of insomnia include lifestyle factors, such as drinking caffeine or alcohol before bedtime, medical conditions, psychiatric conditions, medications and other sleep disorders. For example, heartburn, depression and antidepressants can all lead to insomnia. Examples of other sleep disorders which may cause insomnia include sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. For many people, a combination of these factors causes insomnia. For example, after a stressful day at work, you may eat or drink later in the evening, resulting in insomnia.